On November 16, 2019, sportscaster Mark Zambrano and singer-actress Aicelle Santos got married.
Dating exclusively since 2016, Mark and Aicelle were engaged in March 2018.
At the time of the engagement, one of the happiest people celebrating the milestone was Mark's mother (second from the left).
She had always firmly believed that her eldest son would find someone he will love deeply and marry.
Before Mark met Aicelle, the ESPN5 sports commentor was already set on being "single for life."
"Jaded na jaded na ako noon," Mark told PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) a month before the wedding.
"Kasi pinaghahandaan ko na iyong 'single for life.' As in, kuha na ako ng condo na mag-isa ako. Sinasabi ko sa mom ko hindi ako mag-aasawa. Ganoon na."
But his mother Beng always dismissed it.
"Sabi nga ng mom ko, e, nung time na sinasabi ko sa kanya, 'Mom, single na lang ako.' Hindi daw siya naniniwala.
"Kaya ako, never ko na-remember na sinabihan niya ako, 'Okay lang iyan, anak.' Every time I say that, tatahimik siya.
"'Tapos nung nagpro-propose na ako, that night after that, sabi niya sa akin, 'Alam mo, Anak, di 'ko naniwala nung sinabi mo sa akin kasi hindi ko matanggap na hindi mag-aasawa panganay ko.'
"Sabi ng mom ko, 'I know how much love you are capable of giving, and alam ko gagawa ng paraan ang Diyos. Hindi puwede ikaw lang. Kailangan i-share mo iyan.'"
HOW MARK KNEW AICELLE was THE ONE
Mark said Aicelle was always on his mind.
The former GMA-7 reporter recounted to PEP.ph, "Sa akin kasi, pagkagising mo, 'tapos naiisip mo iyong bagay-bagay, first thing on your mind, siya, every morning. Sign na sa akin iyon, e."
Aicelle confirmed this, saying she always woke up in the morning with a greeting from Mark.
The singer-actress said, "Mula nung nagkakilala kami hanggang ngayon, every day ako may 'Good morning' text.
"'Good morning, mahal.' Automatic iyon. Naiisip niya talaga 'ko pagkagising niya."
Looking back at his view of marriage and relationships, Mark remarked, "Hindi mo talaga alam what's going to happen. Wala akong control sa lahat ng bagay."
Today, November 16, his wedding day, is the "happiest day" of Mark Zambrano's life.